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With our family of five (including Freckles) Frank and I plan out trips that ensure we have a quality experience at a low cost. Below are a few tips on how to save:
Road trips are a very low cost way of traveling. You can pack lunches for picnics stops during your sight-seeing and take the portable DVD along to have the kids watch movies to past time on the road. If you decide to travel with friends as well as family, splitting the cost of gas and sharing the drive are helpful benefits. Mapping out the cheapest gas stations on your journey and find the least expensive activities and destinations will help in the cost as well.
Flying or taking a cruise can be a luxury but can add up. Ways to save for these types of vacations is to book during off season. You can find great deals traveling to destinations during the more unpopular seasons or book last minute trips. Discounts on cruises can be up to 75% off the cost when reserving the trip a few months prior to departing.
No matter what type of trip or travel method you choose, finding bargains is always the best way to keep your costs at a minimum. Sites like TravelZoo.com and Expedia.com can provide low cost in airfare, hotels and even car rentals.
Using membership cards can help save a few dollars. Cards such as AAA memberships or military ID cards can provide rewarded discounts.
What Frank and I like to do sometimes is stay at a vacation rental instead of a hotel. You can find a vacation rental that has a full kitchen so you can bring your own groceries and supplies to stock that will reduce the cost of eating out. Plus some rentals have laundry facilities to wash your laundry without having to use a dry-cleaning service.
Souvenirs are another way to rack up costs. Instead of buying t-shirts, postcards or key-chains bring a digital camera and take photos of your trip experiences. You can create homemade postcards that will have a personal touch by writing a brief story of what the picture means to you. If you are heading to the beach during your travels, have the kids collect the prettiest shells on the beach and you can hand make your own seashell necklaces, or place them in jar with sand which everyone will love.
Remember travelling can be stressful and exciting but the most important component is being together and sharing that precious time. Frank and I have learned throughout all of our travels that these are moments money can’t buy.
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
The idea of staying in a vacation rental instead of a hotel is an interesting one. I have never heard of that before. I assume you go about finding those through travel agents? My wife and I usually take some groceries and make sure we get a hotel room with a microwave and refrigerator. Then we make sure to eat the continental breakfast and try to eat sandwiches and stuff for another meal. Finding vacation rental though, I would love to know more about those, the probably have more room for the kidos to huh?
Hi DiscipleshipGuy;
This (below) a great website that can help you find within your area vacation rentals. Yes the can be much roomier than hotels and it feels like a home away from home.
http://www.vacationrentals.com/
i believe there are hostels for youngsters in europe.
if the airlines prices would go down…
Hostels aren’t just for youngsters when you go to Europe. A friend and I (30’s and 40’s) went to Madrid and Paris and stayed in hostels the whole way. Very economical.
o good they raised the age limit.
it was strictly for 18-25 yr. olds a decade ago.
i think people travel more when they’re older.
We rented a house this past summer with our daughter and her family. Four adults and three children for ten days on the Pend Orielle river for $800. Full kitchen including all dishes, pots & pans, small appliances, flatware, etc.; complete bedding and towels; a kayak and water toys; washer/dryer, firepit and hot tub in the backyard; dock off the beach. Lovely and very reasonably priced.
That sounds great!
my dream is to live in a lighthouse.
ok temporarily
fantastic.
i love rivers. or any waterways.
I live in Oregon. I have been checking out our state’s parks recreational guide online.I found some great ideas on this website. State parks are beginning to offer Yurts for rent for a very low price.You can check out some on this website or check out your own state parks website. http://www.blog.traveloregon.com/2009/03/27/gone-yurting…/
;/ oregan is the state on my travelling list.
you’d think i was a good neighbour in california,
but i fly all the way to the east coast.
rentals. i think driving is the best and cheapest way to travel.
but flying is defnitely the funnest.
I think this game has a lot of good ideas about saving money and especially like the envelope Idea am going to do that for sure……..Irene
e sp. that part, yeah.
I live in Redding Ca the trips I plan can be 3 hrs. in any direction and either be in the snow, the beach, or Reno, I can do this on a budget. It’s great!
budget, its my fave. word these days;/
snow, beach,desert,
forests?
how about urban stuff?
galleries,malls, skyscrapers.
Those are good travel ideas too. Thanks!
cartwheels;/
yup rates over the weekends are much more flexible.
once the destination is decided, then its just packing…
ever drive around homebase and not stop to smell the flowers,
until you have to.
nothing like home sweet home.
yup made the postcard.
now i need shells;/
Even something as simple as walking a few blocks from your hotel can save you on food money. My sister and brother-in-law went to Cabo San Lucas and instead of eating at the hotel they walked a couple of blocks down the street to a little cafe. The food was great and much less expensive.
Also, asking the locals for good places to eat is a great way to find really good food that is less expensive than the more touristy restaurants. Cheers.
When traveling my family use or timeshare and stay in a condo we save on not only hotel fees but food as well. We bring our own food and cook while we are there
ooo the own the vacation home for a week deals…
My wife and I have a time sharing program. It good all over the county. These time sharing places can sleep from2-6 people it depends on what size of cabins or house you get. We used the one we had to good to Wisconsin dells. It was not that ecxpensive since we eat breakfast home and 4 dinner at the timeshare. We only ate out for 3 dinners for the week.
from, Casper Gutmann
vacations are so expensive.
these days the only way i’ll be motivated to go on one is if its close to free